Jay Temples on Instagram: "“Babylon Is Fallen” began as an 1813 Shaker hymn written by Richard McNemar and first published in the Shaker hymnal Millennial Praises. It entered American folk tradition through 19th‑century shape‑note singing, especially its appearance as No. 117 in The Sacred Harp, which carried it widely through Southern and Appalachian singing culture."

Before Churches Had Songbooks, There Was 'Lined-Out' Gospel

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞-𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 🎼✨ African American shape-note singing communities existed as far back as the Reconstruction Era in 1863-1877. • This tradition led to the creation of all-day singings and conventions that were central to our communities, such as the Florida-Alabama Progressive Seven Shape-Note Singing Convention, founded in 1928. • The four-part harmony style of shape-note singing is a significant trad